Justice League - The Snyder Cut Exclusive Series Mini Review

Justice League - The Snyder Cut (Facebook Exclusive Series)

Initial release date: March 18, 2021 (HBO Max Original release)

Tagline: Us united …

Studios: HBO Max Warner Brothers DC Films

Plot: In ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League,’ determined to ensure Superman’s ultimate sacrifice wasn’t in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own past to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf, DeSaad and Darkseid and their dreadful intentions.

Cast

Ben Affleck - Batman/Bruce Wayne

Henry Cavill - Superman/Clark Kent

Amy Adams - Lois Lane

Gal Gadot - Wonder Woman/Diana Prince

Ray Fisher - Cyborg/Victor Stone

Jason Momoa - Aquaman/Arthur Curry

Ezra Miller - The Flash/Barry Allen

Willem Dafoe - Vulko

Jesse Eisenberg - Lex Luthor

Jeremy Irons - Alfred

Diane Lane - Martha Kent

Connie Nielson - Queen Hippolyta

J.K. Simmons - Commissioner Gordon

Ryan Zhang - Ryan Choi

Amber Heard - Mera

Joe Morton - Silas Stone

Lisa Loven Kongli - Menalippe

David Thewlis - Ares

Ann Ogbomo - Philippus

Kiersey Clemons - Iris West

Harry Lennix - General Swanwick

Jared leto - The Joker

Writer: Chris Terrio (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)

Director: Zack Snyder (Batman v. Superman; the upcoming Army of the Dead)

Rated R for violence and some language (4 hours 2 minutes)

The Zack Snyder Cut of ‘Justice League’ is a major, major improvement of what was released on the big screen roughly four years ago. Just from watching this version’s first twenty or so minutes, it gets you completely hooked - unlike the 2017 movie.

The visual effects are completely incredible and have a lot of mind-blowing action. Even the villain’s designs look a lot better. The Snyder Cut is, indeed, darker than the original theatrical release. But, this cut completely works and the movie’s tones aren’t all over the place (unlike the 2017).

And even though The Snyder Cut is a tad over four hours, the lengthy run time is really worth it. The movie is very fast-paced and doesn’t lose any momentum once things get going and does an amazing job keeping you intrigued!

One of the many things that this version improves on is the backstory of the villain Steppenwolf. The 2017 version cut a good portion of it out and made the villain seem kinda boring. But, the new version is incredibly badass and his improved look is very awesome!

So, if you have an HBO Max subscription, make sure to give the Snyder Cut a look. It’s really worth it! And also makes me wonder what the DCEU would’ve been like if it followed Snyder’s original plan.

Here are A LOT of interesting tidbits about The Snyder Cut:

• According to Zack Snyder, this version contains no shots filmed by Joss Whedon from the theatrical version.

• In order to keep full creative control and ensure that the fans receive the most benefit from the Snyder Cut, Zack Snyder refused to be paid for finishing his ‘Justice League.’

• Dedicated in memory of Snyder’s daughter Autumn Snyder. Her death is the reason Snyder stepped down from the original production.

• Victor Stone/Cyborg was originally described as the “heart of the movie” by Zack Snyder, but Whedon controversially cut most of his storyline for the theatrical version. The plot is restored in this version.

• Soon after the theatrical release of ‘Justice League,’ in which many critics and fans alike found the film an inaccurate representation of Snyder’s vision, the hashtag #ReleasetheSnyderCut began to grow in popularity through social media in hopes of promoting the possible director’s cut.

• According to Snyder, despite the cliffhanger ending, there won’t be a sequel to elaborate the events, until Warner Bros. decides otherwise.

• ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League is deemed the original version of JL, expected to reform the bridge of continuity between ‘Batman v Superman’ (Ultimate Edition) and ‘Aquaman.’

• #ReleasetheSnyderCut was the most tweeted hashtag for an unreleased movie.

• The film is implied to take place only a few weeks after the climactic events of ‘Batman v Superman,’ while the Whedon cut is simplified to take place over a year after Superman’s death.

• Despite the film’s improved reaction, it’s considered non-canon in the DCEU, like the theatrical version.

• Following the release of ‘Man of Steel,’ Snyder outlined the basis of the DCEU, which centered around a 5 film arc including ‘Man of Steel,’ ‘Batman v Superman and a ‘Justice League’ trilogy.

• Snyder’s original vision was to have ‘Batman v Superman’ be the darkest of the franchise, and have subsequent films become lighter in tone. However, ‘BvS’ was poorly received, with criticism for its dark tone, lack of humor, and slow pace.

• After disapproving of Snyder’s direction, WB hired Whedon to rewrite the script and help with extensive reshoots. CEO Kevin Tsujihara mandated the length wasn’t to exceed 2 hours. WB also decided not to push back the release date (which would have allowed the filmmakers more time) so that execs could keep their annual bonuses and partly due to concerns that parent company AT&T might dissolve the studio after a then-upcoming merger.

• There are many differences between the two versions. While the basic framework of the story is the same, dozens of additional scenes, backstories, mythos, worldbuilding elements, new characters and teases for upcoming films are present in Snyder’s version.

• Following the release of the Snyder Cut, fans immediately took to social media to express their love and appreciation for the film as compared to the Whedon Cut. #RestoretheSnyderVerse started trending as fans advocated for WB to allow Snyder to fulfill his original vision for the DCEU and direct the ‘Justice League’ sequels, further fueled by the numerous teasers in the Epilogue of the new cut.

• The studio first approached Snyder to release his cut unfinished as he had left it, but Snyder objected to doing so and insisted on either finishing it or not completing it, leading WB to take some months before figuring out that Snyder wanted to give what the audience desired.